Wire-weaving loom



,March 23 1926.

J J. DANNER WIRE WEAVING LOQM Filed April 5) 1924 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Inn/e12 Z 0! Join? I Damn?!" i W X March 23,1926. 1 1,577,694

J. J. DANNER WIRE WEAVING LOOM File p l 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet Ln/emu" 107ml Banner y J, J. DANNER WIRE YIEAVIQNG 1400M Filed April 5; 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I vventor. Jam; 1 Dunner v l fy Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNi i'Ei STATES JOHN J. BANNER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WIRE-WEAVING LOOM.

Application filed April 5,

To all "whom it may comer 1 Be it known that 1, JOHN J. BANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire-iVeaving Looms, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to looms, and more particularly to a loom for weaving wire.

The weaving of wire is sometimes attended by the difficulty of bringing the weft into properly spaced relation with respect to the warp, and this difficulty increases with the diameter of the wire and also as the size of the mesh diminishes. As a result, most of the heavy wire mesh made in the past has been woven by hand.

An object of the present invention is to weave wire of any known gauge and mesh.

A further object is to make a batten having self-compensating reeds to be used in weaving wire of any gauge and mesh.

A further object is to make a loom readily adaptable for weaving wire of any gauge and mesh.

A still further object is to improve a loom for the weaving of wire.

In order to attain these objects there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a loom wherein a batten, provided with self adjusting reeds, is pivotally connected to a supporting frame, and a toothed clamp is provided on the take off end of the loom for seizing wire fabric as it is woven to hold it during the operation of the batten.

These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a view in isometric projection of a loom made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2, is a view in vertical cross section on lines 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a view in side elevation of a toothed bar used in clamping a mesh while weaving.

Figure 4:, is a view in front elevation of an operating member of a device for seizing wire mesh as it is woven.

Figure 5, is a view in end elevation thereof.

Figure 6, is a View in front elevation of 1924. Serial No. 704,392.

a portion of a batten with parts broken away to show the construction thereof.

Figure 7, is a view in end elevation thereof.

Figure 8, is a vertical cross sectional View of a pair of heddles and a supporting frame therefor.

Figure 9, is a partial front elevation of a heddle.

Figure 10, is a view in front elevation of a wire aligning member positioned on the feeding end of a loom, a portion thereof being broken away to Sl1OW the method of positioning upright spacing members there- 111.

Figure 11, is a vertical cross sectional view of the same.

Figure 12, shows two samples of wire mesh produced by a machine made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 18, is a view in side elevation of a portion of the machine showing foot treadles and associated parts.

Figure 14:, is a View in end elevation thereof, showing the operation of a foot treadle releasing device.

Figure 15, is a view in side elevation of a modified form of a heddle operating device in combination with a batten pivotally mounted above a loom.

Figure 16, is a view in end elevation thereof; and

Figure 17, is a schematic view in side elevation of a loom made in"accordance with the invention here illustrated as having a batten pivotally connected to a lower portion of the frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference characters are used to denote the same parts throughout the drawings:

A frame A as here shown may be built of hard wood, and, since the construction of the frame is essential at only a few points, these pointsalone will be considered.

A cross member 2 is integral with corner posts 3, and a second cross member 1 is free to slide up and down between these corner posts in channel-like tracks formed on the upper extensions of the corner posts by means of plates 5, which -may be of metal, secured to the corner posts and extending inwardly therefrom.

' A'method of moving cross member 1 up and down is best illustrated by'Figure 2 in connection with Figure 1. A bolt 6, at each end of cross member 1, has its head rigidly secured to member 1 in any suitable manner, and, penetrating member 1 it passes through a bushing 7 in member 2 and then through an aperture in member 9, below which it is secured by means of a nut 101.' A spring 10 is coiled about bolt 6, and, acting between a plate 11, fastened to the bottom of member 2 and the head of bolt 6, integral with member 1, this spring tends to separate members 1 and 2, and, since mem her 2 is stationary, this exerts a lifting force on member 1.

A mechanism for depressing member 1 is provided in the Y-shaped member 9 and a lever 13. Lever 13 is pivotally connected to the frame at 14 and has a slidable pivotal connection to member 12 at 15. Depression of lever 13 thus causes a depression of member 12, which is held in vertical alinement by straps 16 passing over a portion of member 12. Lever 13 may be secured in any degree of depression by means of a pawl, not shown, of any suitable type engaging with a toothed segment 17 fastened to the frame A by any suitable means. Being connected to bolt 6, the depression of lever 13 lowers member 9 and exerts a clamping action between members 1 and 2. A compound bar 18, having teeth 19 pivotally mounted therein, is fastened immediately above the rear lower edge of member 1. The method of fastening teeth 19 to the compound bar 18 is best seen in Figure 3. The tooth 19 has a circular upper portion which tits into a round hole 4 in the center part of the compound bar and is held in place by the sides of the bar. The tooth 19 nor mally hangs vertically downward, but should it strike a wire of a mesh being woven when the clamping action between members 1 and 2 is exerted, the tooth may be readily dis placed to either dotted line position 8. Fastcned immediately below the rear upper edge of member 2 is a shelf-like member 20, havinga slot-like aperture 12 running lengthwise thereof to'permit the entrance of teeth 19 therein when member 1 is lowered to a clamping position by the actuation of lever 13.

Pivotally connected to the frame by bolts 21 is a batten C. The batten is composed of end plates 22, which may be of metal, and cross members 23 and 24 integrally secured between the end plates. The details of construction of the batten are best seen in F igures 6 and 7 in connection with Figure 1.

Setlongitudinally of members '23 and 24, respectively, in recesses therein, are pairs of metal retaining strips 25 and 26, while intermediate each pair of retaining strips is a guiderod 27 extending from one end plate 22xto the other. Slidably mounted upon these guide rods 27 are metal reeds 28, and,

surrounding the rods 27 intermediate each adjacent pair of reeds are spacing springs 29 for resiliently holding the reeds a uniform distance apart. Braces 30 extend angularly from the inner face of each end plate 22 to the bottom of cross member 23. Tie rods 31, extending between end plates 22, tend to draw the end plates together, and also serve to strengthen and unify the batten. Angle iron corner plates 32 are fastened in place by bolts 33 extending through cross member 23 to strengthen the batten at these points.

Heddles 34 and 35 operate on a raised portion of the frame composed of uprights and a cross beam 37. The construction and mode of operation of the heddles is best seen in Figures 3 and 9 in connection with Figure 1. Each heddle is composed of upper and lower T-iron members 38 connected at their ends by vertical members 39 of heavy strap iron. Since both ends of the heddles are the same, illustration of one end is sufficient to show the construction. Extensions 40 project at the ends of each heddle, and these projections ride in guide grooves 41 in uprights 36 (see Figure 1). Metal straps 42 are horizontally connected intermediate the vertical members 39, and upon these straps are loosely mounted, in a manner to slide freely thereon, spring steel members 43, each of which is designed to carry a strand of wire to form the warp of a mesh, a hole 44 in the center of each spring steel member being provided for this purpose. The wire used in weaving mesh is usually crimped, as shown in Figure 12, and for this reason the holes 44 should be sufficiently larger than the diameter of the wire to allow the crimped strand to pass freely therethrough. When preparing a loom for weaving, alternate strands of warp wire are threaded through holes 44 in alternate heddles in a manner well known in the art of weaving.

Connected to the top of each heddle at either end is a flexible member 45, which may be a chain. The flexible members fastened to the top of heddle 34 are here shown passing over pulleys 46 and 47 and connected to the top ring of a turnbuckle 43 which is in turn connected to a treadle 49. The flexible members attached to the top of heddle 35 are shown passing over similar pulleys to a turnbuckle 50which is connected to a treadle 5'1. Depression of either treadle will, therefore, tend to raise the heddle to which it is connected.

By referring to Figure 8 it will be noted that the lower portions of the heddles are interconnected near their ends by flexible members 52 which pass around pulleys 53 on uprights 36. Raising either heddle will, therefore, cause the other to be lowered by the action of members 52 around pulleys 53, which is the operation desired.

Both treadles are pivotally connected to the frame at 54, and at their other ends the treadles ride in vertical guides 55, connected to the frame in any suitable manner. A device for locking either treadle in its lowermost position is controlled by a handle 105. The operation of the treadles is best illustrated in Figures 13 and i l in connection with Figure 1.

Consider treadlc 51 to held at its lowermost position by a bolt 57 extending into the guideway of this treadle. This bolt 57 connected to a plate 58 which also carries a second bolt 59 extending into the guideway of treadlc 2-9. Plate 58 is pivotally con nected to a lever 60 which is pivotally fastened to the frame A. at 61. A red 62 is pivotally connected to lever 60 and this rod, passing through frame member (it, carries at its outer 'end a handle 10.. A coiled spring 65 surrounds rod 62 and the tension of this spring tends to keep lever 60 with its upper end thrown to the right in the manner illustrated in Figure I l to force the locking bolts into the treadle guideways. Pulling handle 105 out, moves lever 60 in a counterclockwise direction, pulling bolts 57 and 59 inwardly to release whichever treadle may be locked in a depressed position. It should be apparent that both trcadles cannot be depressed at once sinc the flexible members 52 connecting the lower sides of the heddles and passing around pulleys tend to raise one her dle as the other is lowered. However, it is possible to have both treadles depressed half the length of the guideways in which they ride at the same time. A bolt 56, slidably fastened to the frame by straps 102 can be moved out across the paths of the treadles to hold them both in such a semi-depressed position in the manner shown in Figure l.

A wire spacing device B, for holding warp wires in separate alinement while being fed into the loom, is mounted upon the rear of the frame, and the construction of this member is best illustrated by Figures 10 and 11 in connection with Figure 1.

A cross member 6*? of the frame of the loom supports a plate 68, which may be of sheet metal. Fastened to this plate with the channel down is a base 69 of channel iron, wherein are equally spaced slots 70 to permit the insertion therein of vertical spacing members 71, which may be of steel. A second member 72 of slotted channel iron extends horizontally between the rear corner posts of the frame A to hold the upper ends of vertical members 71 in place. A piece of strap iron 73 covers the top of the upper channel member 72 to form a top therefor, and is secured in place by screws 74.

A means for supporting wire while being fed into the machine is provided by a frame composed of straps 75 pivotally connected to brackets 76 fastened to the rear corner posts of frame A, and a standard, composed of a pipe 77 pivotally connected to the straps 75 and having legs 79 integral the-re with. The supporting device is shown in Figure 1 as being folded under the machine, but by raising the standard and supporting it by legs 79, pipe 77 is brought to a height to conveniently support warp wires being fed into the machine.

Rods 80 and 81 extend horizontally between the rear corner uprights and heddlc supporting uprights 3G, and permit the insertion between them of a board, not shown, or similar member across the machine at this point to aid in supporting warp wires which are not stiff enough to support themselves, without undue sagging, in the span between the wire spacing device 13, and the heddles.

A modified form of hcddle actuating mechanism, and a batten which is designed to be swung from above the machine is illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. This type of construction has been found extremely suitable for heavy work. Uprights 82 may be of structural iron of any suitable shape, interconnected by members 83, and diagonally braced by members ti l. A central up right 85 is rigidly connected to the frame thus formed in any suitable manner, and tracks, not shown, corresponding to tracks 41 in Figure 1 for guiding the heddles in their vertical movements, may be connected to these uprights by any suitable means. An actuating lever 86 is pivotally connected to'the frame at 87 and carries a plate 88 to which studs 89 and 90 are firmly attached.- Swinging lever 86 to theleft into the solid line position shown in Figure I l, would raise the heddle connected to stud 89 and lower the one connected to stud 90, while swinging lever 86 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 15 would reverse the positions of the heddles. A latch 91 of any suitable kind may be connected to the lever 86 and this latch, cooperating with notches 92 in a segment 93, may be used to lock the lever 86 in a desired position. It is apparent that a much greater leverage may be obtained with this device than with a foot operated treadle, which makes this type of heddle operation preferable for use in heavy duty machines.

A batten 94 is pivotally connected to the frame at 95, and when it is desired to bring the batten into operation, a locking catch 96 of awell known type, pivotally connected to upright 82, is rotated in a counter clockwise direction to release the batten. The batten is then manually swung against a weft wire, not shown, which it is desired to drive into position; and is then swung back, catching upon the hook of locking catch 96. The advantage of a batten of this type in n, or)

heavy work is marked, since the weight oi the batten aids in the swing which drives home the weft wire.

The operation or the loom is schematily illustrated in Figure 17. lVires 97 are passed through aligning member B and alternate wires are passed through heddles and 36, respectively. These wires are then passed between the resiliently sup ported reeds ot' batten C and between clamping members 1 and :2, springs 29 shown in Figure 6 pern'iitting the wires to be laterally adjusted as desired. The batten C should be in the right-hand dotted line positi n at this time. Heddle 35 is then raised, thereby lowering heddle 36 in a manner hereinbejlore describeail, to separate alternate warp wires to form a shed 98 of flatlozene'e section. lrlembers 1 and are then drawn together to clamp the warp wires between them, aweft ire 99 is passed between the *arp wires at the left hand extremity of the iozenge shaped shed 98 and is swung to the left hand dotted batten =11 line position, driving weft wire 99 to a de sired position between the warp wires, the reams of batten C being permitted to assume a proper position with respect to the warp by means of springs 29, previously descrioed, intermediate the reeds. The position of the heddles is then rever l and the process repeated at will. It is not necessary to release the mesh from the clamping action of men rs 1 and E2 at the insertion of each mesh wire, but, when a quantity of mesh has been woven which is suthcient to interfere with the effective stroke of the batten, the mesh may be released from the clamp and moved out to approximately the. position shown in Figure 17.

The clamping teeth 19 fastened to the rear or" member 1 must sometimes be changed and replaced by ones of a different size to handie diflerent sizes and mesh of wire, a bar with finer teeth and a greater number of teeth per foot being required for line wire of small mesh, and a bar with larger teeth with a fewer number of teeth per foot being required for heavier wire. The changing of the teeth is accomplished by means or bolts 100 and is the only change required in weaving wire of any gauge or mesh within the capacity of the machine, the batten, heddles, and guides being self adaptable for any gauge or mesh of wire.

Two specimens of woven mesh are illustrated in .lfi i ure 12. Both are illustrated as: of the sa 'ie gauge and crimp of wire, but in specimen 103 the space between adjacentwarp wires is equal to the length of one crimp, and the weft wires are driven up to be held in adjacent crimps. In specimen 104, however, the warp wires are spaced at distance apart equal to three times the length of one crimp and each weft wire is driven up to within three crimp lengths of the weft wire next preceding it. Various patterns may be woven by varying the le th of the crimp and the spacing of the wires, but the two illustrated specimens are broadly illustrative of the product.

lVhat I claim is:

A wire weaving loom of the character described, comprising a frame, a pair of reciprocable heddles mounted upon the frame, lever means for manipulating the heddles, releasable locking means to lock the hed dies in alternately raised and depressed pos tion, a batten pivotally connected to the frame, and clamp means having teeth pivotally connected to a. support member removably mounted on the clamp means.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature.

JOHN J. BANNER. 

